Drop of more than 3,400 barrels in production from block 16 due to stoppages by Waorani communities

The Ecuador’s oil production again suffered a significant drop on January 11, according to official reports from Petroecuador. Oil production fell by more than 7,000 barrels, going from 397,173 barrels as of January 10 to 390,122 barrels.

This time, two factors affected the oil production in the Ecuadorian state company: on the one hand, the conflict in the Block 16, located in the Orellana sector due to de facto measures carried out by the Waorani Dicaro community, who claim benefits promised by the previous operator of that block. This conflict has been going on for 17 days. On the other hand, a similar drop has also been registered in the Auca block, in charge of Petroecuador, but managed by the Schlumberger company.

Thus, the production of block 16 went from 13,481 barrels to 9,994 barrels in the same period, always according to Petroecuador data. This is a drop of 3,487 barrels. In contrast, Auca’s production went from 75,688 barrels to 71,934 barrels, that is, a reduction of 3,754 barrels.

The December 31, 2022 the contract that the State had with the company Petrolia (formerly Repsol) was terminated in the midst of claims from the private company, since it had the intention of extending the contract. While, On January 1, 2023, Petroecuador made a symbolic takeover of the facilities.

A few days ago, Petroecuador reported that it had increased the average daily production of 13,533 barrels (number in which the block was received) to 14,206 barrels. Apparently, at that moment the first protest actions of the indigenous communities had taken place. In any case, this week Petroecuador announced the problem and assured that it was supplying the block with the necessary inputs for its operation. However, after 17 days of paralysis the havoc is beginning to be felt.

For its part, the Ministry of Energy indicated that in view of the de facto measure that is being developed in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which has resulted in the blocking of the access road to the oil facilities of block 16 and to the communities of Waorani nationality, located in the far south, it maintains its commitment and seeks to strengthen the community relations and social responsibility program that the previous operator carried out.

He explained that the authorities of the Ministry have responded to various communications and have held permanent working meetings with local authorities, leaders and representatives of indigenous communities of the area of ​​influence, with the aim of solving the questions and explaining the reversal process in the legal, technical, social and environmental fields. In addition, a strategic dialogue channel has been established with community representatives to listen to their concerns.

While, together with the Government of Orellana, actions are coordinated to maintain rapprochement with community leaders, in order to achieve viable consensus that allows the stoppages to end.

The Ministry leads an inter-institutional commission made up of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights, the Environment, the Secretariat for Management and Development of Peoples and Nationalities, and Petroecuador, whose purpose is to verify compliance with the commitments made and the sustainability of operations. The Ministry of the Environment is in charge of environmental remediation. (YO)